PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Langestroem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and naama kala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Langestroem
vs
kala

188 cm
23
196 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Langestroem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, naama kala!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Langestroem shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. kala manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Langestroem throws a big right hand that misses.
Langestroem trying to control but kala is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Langestroem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Langestroem passes into half guard.
kala trying to control from the bottom.

kala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Langestroem scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Langestroem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Langestroem there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Langestroem lands a nice short elbow.
kala tries to get to full guard but Langestroem has control of the leg.
kala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Langestroem. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Langestroem connects with a nice short shot to kala's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Langestroem lands a nice short elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Langestroem lands a nice short elbow.
kala trying to control here.
Langestroem slips a nice elbow through kala's hands, connecting with kala's forehead.
kala tries to get to full guard but Langestroem has control of the leg.
Langestroem thows a huge punch but kala dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kala tries to kick Langestroem off but Langestroem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Langestroem throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
kala wants to control but Langestroem is keeping busy and won't allow it.
kala taking some punishment here, with Langestroem in his half guard.
kala is in trouble now - Langestroem has advanced to mount!
Langestroem is landing with some decent strikes but kala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
kala looks gassed!
Langestroem landing strikes from the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
kala is squirming around, avoiding Langestroem's attempts to control the action.
A nice elbow there by Langestroem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Langestroem dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

kala tries to clinch but Langestroem is having none of it.
kala stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and kala wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from kala does no damage.
kala chopping away at his opponent's legs.
kala is looking to clinch.
kala throws a half hearted mid kick.

kala drives through and clinches with Langestroem against the cage.
kala wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
kala is trying to break free.
Langestroem managing to block the knees to the body from kala.

kala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
kala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Langestroem scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langestroem lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear kala down.
Langestroem lands a nice forearm strike.
Langestroem lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear kala down.
Langestroem working the head with strikes.
Langestroem working the body and head with strikes.
Langestroem grinds an elbow into kala's temple.
Check out the look on Langestroem's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Langestroem prevents kala from escaping the position.
Langestroem is chipping away with strikes.
kala gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Langestroem is landing with some decent strikes but kala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Langestroem has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langestroem cracks kala with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Langestroem working away from the top, dropping strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Langestroem is landing with some decent strikes but kala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Langestroem cracks kala with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
kala wants to hold on but Langestroem pushes him away.
Langestroem unloading with bombs!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Langestroem scoring with strikes but kala is staying in there.
kala tries to hold on but Langestroem postures up.
Langestroem lands a big shot there that rocks kala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Langestroem dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Langestroem scores a takedown into full mount!
Langestroem landing shots from mount.
Langestroem has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of kala's face.
kala is trying to escape the mount.
Langestroem lands with some vicious ground and pound - can kala hang on?
Langestroem lands a big elbow.
Langestroem lands a big shot there that rocks kala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Langestroem lands a big elbow.

kala is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Langestroem prevents kala from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langestroem breaks from kala's wrist control and lands an elbow.
kala is still in real trouble! Can Langestroem finish him?
Langestroem lands a nice shot to the head.
kala seems to have recovered his senses.
Langestroem working the ground and pound effectively.
Langestroem fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Langestroem lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if kala can do anything to dispel that myth.
kala is working to get back to half guard.
Langestroem with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langestroem looking to finish kala with some ground and pound. This is bad for kala!
Langestroem with a couple of short strikes.
Langestroem punishing his opponent with strikes.
Langestroem with shots to the head and body - kala looks very uncomfortable down there.
kala wants to control but Langestroem is having none of it.
Langestroem scoring with strikes but kala is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
kala can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Langestroem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Langestroem clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Langestroem changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. kala tries to avoid it but Langestroem manages to keep hold of a leg and drag kala to the ground. kala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
kala throws a series of punches but Langestroem moves out of range.
kala is looking to clinch but Langestroem is avoiding it.
Langestroem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that kala can do to turn this around?
kala fails in his attempt to clinch.
kala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
kala stuffs the takedown attempt from Langestroem. Langestroem gets slowly back to his feet.
kala swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
kala doesn't manage to clinch there - Langestroem circles away.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A chopping leg kick lands by kala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kala misses with a head kick.
kala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
kala wants to clinch up but Langestroem keeps it at a distance.
Langestroem shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. kala defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Langestroem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
kala tries to clinch but Langestroem moves out of range.
Marcus Langestroem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A thudding body kick lands there by kala!
kala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Langestroem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
kala stuffs the takedown attempt from Langestroem. Langestroem gets slowly back to his feet.
naama kala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Langestroem takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
kala wants to clinch up but Langestroem keeps it at a distance.
kala doesn't manage to clinch there - Langestroem circles away.
kala fails to land with a series of punches.
Langestroem fails with a takedown attempt.
kala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Langestroem has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

naama kala dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Langestroem circles away from the clinch attempt.
kala lands a nice looking body shot.
Langestroem fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but kala avoids it really well and circles away.
kala lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by kala.

kala closes the distance and pushes Langestroem back into the cage.

kala manages to break the clinch.

kala darts in and clinches Langestroem up against the cage.
Langestroem has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. kala avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

kala breaks the clinch.

Langestroem darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kala tries to get to full guard but Langestroem has control of the leg.
Langestroem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
kala is trying to get back to full guard.
Langestroem thows a huge punch but kala dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
kala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Langestroem thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed kala's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
kala scores with a jab to the jaw.
kala lands a jab to Langestroem's midsection.
kala lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Langestroem takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Langestroem shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as kala sprawls well. kala wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Langestroem gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Langestroem. That's going to take a lot out of him.

kala forces Langestroem back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
naama kala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Langestroem has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Marcus Langestroem!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Marcus Langestroem!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Marcus Langestroem!

Marcus Langestroem wins by unanimous decision!